The ever-scrappy Celtics pushed the depleted Warriors to the limit and then some tonight at the Garden, but ended up on the losing end, 124-119 in 2 OT.
The Celtics had good opportunities to win this game at the end of regulation and the 1st OT but Isaiah Thomas (18 points, 7-22 FG) failed on both possessions. At the end of regulation we (painfully) watched Thomas dribble off 15 some seconds and then attempt a 22 footer over Shaun Livingston which was blocked. At the end of OT, the Thomas isolation led to a floater in the paint which came up short. I’m willing to give Thomas one crack at the game winner, but I would have preferred Brad Stevens diagram a play with ball movement on the second.
Steph Curry led all scorers with 38 points but shot 9-27 with 8 TOs. All things considered, Avery Bradley and Evan Turner did an admirable job defending the reigning MVP. Draymond Green (24 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, 5 blocks, 5 steals) was a killer. Boston has no one who can match his size (man, is he a long 6-7) and versatility. He also led all players in chest pounding screams.
Green
Kelly Olynyk led the Celtics with 28 on 11-21 shooting. He dropped 8 points in the 4th quarter as the C’s overcame a 7 point deficit. His scoring was enough to almost make you forget about his atrocious rebounding.
David Lee had 10 points (5-8 FG) including a couple of huge buckets during the Celtics 4th quarter run.
While he’s good for 2-3 mind boggling turnovers per game. Evan Turner had a strong all-around game (13 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks). He had 3 key defensive plays (2 blocks, steal) on Steph Curry during the 4th.
Gross
After scoring 15 points in the opening quarter, Bradley tallied just 4 points the rest of the way. I understand his primary focus is defending Curry, but AB cannot disappear on offense for such a long stretch.
Greenlights
David Lee with the nifty bank
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IT misses the floater at end of 1 OT
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ET with the and-1 on Bogut
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The Grid:
- James Young, Lee and Bradley were the only Celtics to finish with positive +/-
- Curry turned the ball over 3 times by unknowingly stepping out of bounds
- GS took 23 more free throws (39-23)
- Klay Thompson DNP (ankle injury)
Still could be the best night for the Celtics v Warriors since the Parish and McHale trade.
— Nicholas Thompson (@nxthompson) December 12, 2015
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